Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-06-22
"How did you beck the blow to

Madamep''
II didn't venture to. l went down
town, got parrot as like the dead
devil as one pea to another, and sent it
with a new perch up to the house. 1t
got there before Fidessa arrived, and
she would never have discovered the
difference If old Mother Bunch hadn't
called upon her to condole. Then she
sent for me, tragically requested me to
remove the alien bird, and wept over
the memory of her lost pet. But l
told you, Amylion, she was good
hearted, with all her faults. When T
described to her the bite"
''She wanted to send you a new
coat?"
''She fOrgave me, consented to keep
the bird-''
And borrowed $50 upon the strength
or her pardon. Satisfactory finale"
IL never told you that, Amyllon.
! How on earth"
II remember you telling me that you
had lost $40 about that time, as rea-
son for not going out Of town for the
Fourth. Giving, friend Amys, is one
| OF the luXuries of like. But Just SO
soon as generosity suffers coercion it
ceases to be qualification to give. No
man would relish an enforced diet of
| pate de foie gras, yet it's luxury fit
! for the gods. To be asked for a loan
by one who, on principle. never repays
/ it, Is perhaps the most trying form OF
compulsory gilt. The borrower evades
the stigma of begging, while the lender
wholly misses the credit of giving. l
think, Amys, would rather avoid a
more intimate acquaintance with your
fair friend"
II am sorry to hear you say so, for
promised to call upon her next Sunday,
and 1 relied upon your accompanying
me. Did you know that your little
friend Oriana is down from Virginia
City, and staying with FidesSa."
Now, Orlana is pet of mine, and l
had not seen her for an age. l was
| anxious, moreover, to keep brotherly
eye upon Amys; so 1 determined that
if he would go to Fidessa's the follow
ing Sunday, so would I. When the
day came found that he was not TO
be turned from his purpose. There
fore, we called together upon the widow.
| carried with NE into her house my
prejudice against her. In her presence
1t seemed 10 melt away in defiance of
my will. She was certainly wonder
fully agreeable woman, and she ap-
peared sincerely desirous to put forward
little Drama, who Is shy, modest and
retiring. She evinced no feminine
jealousy of her superior advantages of
youth and good looks. Such not being
always the habit of widows, / was
pleasantly surprised.
We were asked TO remain to dinner.
FldeSsa pressed-lnsIsted. 1t was no
kindness TO ask us, she said, for she had
forgotten to market yesterday, and she
didn't believe there was anything fit to
eat in the house. Then she went out
OF the room to ransack the pantrles,
she told US, and Oriana was left to en-
tertaiu us. The latter was unusually
quiet and silent. There was an embar- |
rassment in her manner that 1 could |
not fathom. Was she distressed at our |
remaining to what che knew would be |
a shabby dinner? If so, she placed in |
sufficient faith in the powers of our |
hostess. A more toothsome. inviting |
little dinner never sat down TO. The |
dishes were few, but dainty enough TO |
set before royalty. And the.whole was |
exquisitely served. II formed bet |
ter opinion of Fldessa as sat at her |
table enjoying the delicacies she EVIL |
IDENTIFY took genuine pleasure IN press
ing upon US, than l had thought it |
possible 1 could entertain toward one !
of whose inyeterate and inconslderate |
habits of asking fayors / had heard |
much and experienced little. Two |
items that told strongly In her favor !
with me were her kind manner to |
Oriana and her evident ability as |
housekeeper and hostess.
Amys fairly beamed under the inau-
ence of the tidblEs she slipped on to
bis plate and the smiles she lavished !
upon him. The sherry was incompar-
able, and 1 confess her solicltude In |
keeping my glass in brimming state |
had a most mellowing effect upon my
humor. l could not understand how |
little Oriana, usually so bright and |
CAV, could not resist the effecte Of this |
genial atmosphere. She had grown |
Quieter and more silent since We sat |
down to dinner, and all my efforts |
failed to draw her cut.
We dined early, and the better part !
of the evening was still before US when |
we left FldesSa's house. Amys sug- |
pested some calls In the neighborhooi. |
/ acuuiesced. Our first visit was 10 |
the browns, They were at tea, and In |
sisted upon our each taking cup. The |
six-year-old daughter Of the house, who |
lad a childish fondness for me, came |
and cuddled down in a corner o. the |
n Ut "A
apart from the others.
There is no cake for tea tonight
she said condolingly. I've always |
have lots of cake, and Bridget made |
some that was awful good yesterday: |
but the lady who lives in the little |
house across the street begged 1t all |
away from us to-day. She had COM |
pany that came unexpected, and the |
mice had spoiled all her cake. And |
we gave her some soup, too. She's
nice lady and 1 like her, but 1 wish her |
soup didn't get burned up sometimes,
cause like soup, and to-day there was |
not enough for dinner to give me any, |
cause her soup all got burned up again |
To-day and mamma lent her some or |
ours"
1 was deeply interested.
.sDoes this lady's soup often get
burned?" asked.
..OhI yes-'most every Sunday! And
mana was awful mad to-day, cause II
was gumbo soup we had. and he likes
gumbo soup, and he didn't have but
little wee bit. And he was awful
cross with mamma cause he had q
crushed napkin, cause mamma lent all
the clean ones to the lady. And you
know. she hasn't brought back the Sill
ver bntter-knife mamma lent her ever
SO long ago. And papa says u won |
do; mamma must stop lending ner
things, cause she's an infernai plaque
What's plague?"